Traffic cop gets arrested for extortion, illegal possession of gun

MANILA, Philippines — A police officer assigned at the Northern Police District-Traffic Enforcement Unit was arrested on Tuesday for alleged extortion and illegal possession of firearms.

Police Chief Master Sergeant Kaiser Mijares, investigator on the case, identified the suspect as Patrolman Arnel Agustin.

Mijares said the suspect has been complained of extorting money from truck drivers at the Manila North Harbor since 2016, but was only arrested this morning at Road 10, Manila North Harbor Southbound.

“Nagsimula siya nung 2016, araw-araw humihingi sa nakapilang truck na papasok sa Pier kadalasan binibigay isang daan, singkwenta, yung bente di niya tinatanggap,” Mijares told reporters at the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters.

Arresting officer Police Corporal Jed Magat, assigned at the MPD Traffic Enforcement Unit, said he was surprised that a police officer was already stationed in the area ahead of them when the NPD conducted a clearing operation.

“Nagkataon nag-clearing operation kami. Sabi meron [na] daw pulis dun. Nagulat kami kasi kararating lang namin dun. Kami lang kasi [morning duty] don,” Magat said.

Magat said he and his team confronted the suspect and found that Agustin was posing as a Manila traffic enforcer.

Seized from Agustin were an unregistered .45-caliber gun, eight pieces of ammunition and a butterfly knife.

Agustin was then turned over to the police station for proper disposition and filing of charges for illegal possession of firearms in relation to the Omnibus Election Code and robbery-extortion. /jpv